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<\/a>Shemar Stewart<\/a> agreed to terms on his four-year rookie deal Friday, NFL.com\u2019s Tom Pelissero reports<\/a>. The sides had been engaged in a dispute about default language, and the impasse kept Stewart from working out during OTAs or minicamp. After the stalemate continued into training camp, it is now over. The Bengals bent on language to finally sign Stewart, as Pelissero adds an adjustment was made.<\/p>\nCincinnati attempted to build new language into its rookie contracts<\/a> that would void all guarantees in future years if a player does something to void guarantees in any year of the contract, as opposed to only voiding the guarantees in the year that something occurred. Stewart voiced displeasure in being the guinea pig here and refused to sign, becoming the last first-rounder to put pen to paper this year. After this deal\u2019s completion, only Browns second-round running back Quinshon Judkins<\/a> \u2014 due to a domestic violence arrest \u2014 is unsigned<\/a>.<\/p>\n The above-referenced adjustment, however, does not constitute a win for the Stewart camp on the core issue. Rather, the Bengals agreed to adjust Stewart\u2019s signing bonus payment schedule, Fox Sports\u2019 Jordan Schultz reports<\/a>. That evidently convinced Stewart being the guinea pig for the Bengals\u2019 default language quest was acceptable. Second-rounder Demetrius Knight also objected to the Bengals\u2019 void language, but he ended up accepting it in exchange for<\/a> receiving 75% of his signing bonus upfront.<\/p>\n More specifically, NFL.com\u2019s Ian Rapoport reports<\/a> $500K in Stewart\u2019s bonus will be paid upfront rather than in December. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer\u2019s Kelsey Conway<\/a>, the team also greenlit a $550K bump to bring Stewart into camp. That would be the more notable development, as it would stand to bring a true raise for the disgruntled player in exchange for his agreement on the much-discussed default matter.<\/p>\n Unsigned draftees generally participate in OTAs and minicamps by signing waivers, but Stewart expressed issues with the Bengals on that front as well<\/a>. He has yet to practice since the team chose him 17th overall. The Texas A&M product and the Bengals had been at odds for months on this matter, and while Cincinnati\u2019s concession is not yet known, the team will have its top draft choice in uniform moving forward.<\/p>\n Stewart had been training at his alma mater ahead of training camp \u2014 no, an actual Aggies return (with an aim at a 2026 draft reentrance) was not a thing<\/a> \u2014 but will be tasked with developing quickly in Al Golden\u2018s defense. The Bengals have Hendrickson engaged in a holdout<\/a>, already stripping away their top defender. Having Stewart out of action for this long compounded the issue, but the team at least has two first-rounders \u2014 Stewart and 2023 draftee Myles Murphy<\/a> \u2014 at work.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/USATSI_13141854-211x300.jpg\")
<\/a>This closes one of the strangest negotiating chapters in the rookie-scale contract era (2011-present). First-rounders had been in the fully guaranteed contract bracket for a few years now; at No. 17, Stewart was locked into a fully guaranteed $18.97MM contract when the Bengals drafted him. The team\u2019s crusade over minor default language, which prompted VP of player personnel Duke Tobin to criticize Stewart\u2019s agent this week<\/a>, brought scrutiny \u2014 especially as the Bengals navigate their<\/a> Trey Hendrickson<\/a> impasse. As a result, the team has not had its two highest-profile D-ends at work throughout the offseason.<\/p>\n